I • • • • .SNAKE RIVER MANAGEMENT PLAN·· • . • ~RAND TETON NATIONAL PARK • • • • • • • • • • Octol,er, 1997 • • • • 9lf.ASE REIURN TO: • JECHNICAL lllfORMATION CENTER ·®1.•· . O£N¥ER SERVICE CENTER. · • AATIOHAL PARK SERVICE • FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT SNAKE RIVER MANAGEMENT PLAN GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK n accordance with the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Iregulations of the Council on Environmental Quality, 40 CFR 1508.9, the National· Park Service prepared a Snake River Management Plan/Environmental Assessment (April 1997). The· environmental assessment analyzed the impacts which would result from the proposed federal action of implementing the Snake River Management Plan. The Snake River Management Plan details specific actions to achieve the broad goals of providing for visitor use and resource protection as described in the Master Plan for Grand Teton National Park. PROPOSED ACTION Under the proposed action recreational use of the river corridor below the Jackson Lake Dam will be held at approximately current levels. Each individual scenic float operation will retain its current permitted daily launch quota, not to exceed a monthly cap. This monthly cap will be based on each concessionaire's highest month during the operating seasons of 1994, 1995 and 1996. The monthly overall cap for commercial scenic use will be 2,603 launches, which will include 39 reserve allotments. As with the monthly allotments, each company's reserve will be based on its highest monthly reserve use during the 1994, 1995 and 1996 seasons. Each company's reserve may be used to exceed its daily permitted launch quota; however, it will count towards the monthly cap since these number's were factored into the monthly use limit. In 1999, when.the new commercial prospectuses are issued, each permitee who has not utilized its permit two out of the last three years will find its use subject to reallocation. Each commercial fishing operator will be assigned a monthly cap, based on the concessionaire's highest month over the last three operating seasons. This will provide a monthly overall total of 526 commercial fishing launches, a potential average of 17 launches/day. Those outfitters with little or no use over the last three seasons will be assigned a monthly cap based on the lowest of all current fishing outfitters. Each guide service will be limited to six launches per day. If the standard of 20 launches per day is exceeded more than 5 days a month, a more restrictive daily cap will be explored. In order to spread use out from the crowded river sections, the following incentive will be provided to float the Moose/Wilson section. On this section, fishing guides Will be allowed to float 3 launches per day that will be applied to their daily cap, but not to their monthly cap. The goal, as in the upriver sections, will be to have not more than 20 launches per day on the Moose/Wilson section. If this is exceeded more than 5 days a month, than a more restrictive cap will be explored. In 1999, when the new commercial prospectuses are issued, those permitees who have not utilized their permits two out of the last three years, will find their permitted use subject to reallocation. .Commercial rafts will be limited to crafts which are rated to carry 17 passengers or less, with the exception of the Jackson Lake Lodge big boats which are rated to carry 24 passengers. ' . If noncommercial use exceeds standards outlined in chapter 5 of the plan, the number of private boaters allowed on the river per day wiJJ be limited through the implementation of a permit system. Ifuse levels do not significantly increase, no restrictions are· anticipated. The NPS wiJJ conduct minor dredging at the launch sites. An individual 404 permit wiJJ be obtained from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prior to any work being conducted. Minor changes to improve parking and circulation will be conducted at Jackson Lake Dam, Cattlemans Bridge, and Schwabackers landing. Restroom· facilities will be added to existing facilities at Pacific Creek Landing and Deadmans Bar. Bank stabilization wiJJ occur at Pacific Creek landing to protect the launch from further erosion. ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED Three reasonable alternatives to the proposed action were analyzed in the environmental assessment: No Action, Increased Use and Experience by Segment. The No Action alternative left commercial use at its current permitted levels. That would provide a potential increase of 48% on average 1996 levels for commercial floating and no upper limits for commercial fishing or private floating. In addition, no dredging hi excess of 25 cubic yards would be conducted at the launch sites and no improvements in parking or circulation would be made. The increased use alternative proposed an increase of 10% over existing scenic float permits, or a potential increase of 64 % over average 1996 levels. It also proposed capping guiding fishing at a level 10% above average 1996 levels. The Experience By Segment alternative proposed to zone the river by section and provide different levels of use per segment. Both the . Increased Use and Experience By Segment proposed to treat the launch areas the same as the preferred alternative. The environmental assessment analyzed anticipated short-term, long-term, and cumulative impacts which would result from implementation of the· proposed action and each alternative in conjunction with past activities, current conditions, and possible future actions. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT From the outset ofthe planning process, public input played a critical role in determining the problems and opportunities that would be addressed by the pian. Three public workshops have been held during November 1994, June 1994, and March 1995. In addition two- open houses were held for float and fishing trip permit holders in October 1995 and 1996 to hear some oftheir comments and suggestions about river regulations, . manipulation and commercial use. An additional meeting was held in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service in February 1997 to discuss possible options for managing commercial fishing. A Draft Snake River ·Management Plan was released for public review for a 60 day period from August 13 through October 15, 1996. A second Snake River Management -, Plan/EnvirorunentalAssessment was released fora 45 day public review in April 1997, ending on June 2, 1997. A total of28 comments were received, and those comments· · aree incorporated throughout the plan. REGULATORYREVIEW The National Park Serviceprovided the Wyoming State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) documentation in support of a finding of no effecton historic properties in the area of potential effects in accordance with 36 CFI Part 800 regulations forimplementation of Sec. 106 of the National Historic PreservationAct. FINDING Approval of alternative 1 in the environmental assessment is preferred for the following reasons: 1.e There would be no significant impact to natural resources or cultural resourcese as analyzed in the environmental assessment.e 2.e There would be no adverse impacts to floodplains or wetlands, as evaluatede under Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management, and Executive ordere 11990, Protection of Wetlands.e 3.. There would be no significant impacts which would jeopardize the continuede existence of threatened or endangered plant or animal species, in accordancee with Section 7(c) of the Endangered Species Act.e 4.e There would be no adverse impact, to sites or districts listed or eligible fore listing ii) the National Register of Historic Places under the procedures ofe Sec. I 06 of the National Historic Preservation Act.e 6.e No highly uncertain or controversial effects, unique or uncertain risks,e significant cumulative impacts, or elements of precedence have beene identified.e 7.e There would be beneficial use of the environment without degradation, resultinge in benefit to public health and safety and advancement of the approvede management goals of the National Park Unit.e After thorough review and consideration of the information contained in the environmental assessment and the. public comments, I find that the proposed action does not constitute a major federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment as defined in 40 CFR 1508.27. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as ,, . "" amended, and the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CPR 1508,9), an environmental impact statement will not be prepared for this federal actfon. · /o~/f7 Date · Superintendent • • • • ••• • SNAKE RIVER MANAGEMENT PLAN • • GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK • • • • • • • • • • • • • • October, 1997 • • • • • • • • • • TABLE OF CONTENTS • Executive Summary • Part One: Introduction 1 Introduction 1 • Need for this Plan 4 Project Scope and Objectives 4 • Legislative and Planning History 5 • Planning by Other Agencies 7 • Part Two: Planning Issues 11 Public Participation 11 • Planning Issues 11 • Goals 15 • Part Three: Resource Overview & Existing Conditions 17 Natural Resources 17 • Cultural Resources 27 Recreation Use Patterns and Trends 31 • Visitor Survey Results 34 • Existing Access Areas 39 • Part Four: Management Plan 43 Desired Future Conditions 43 • The Plan 45 • Part Five: Indicators, Standards & Monitoring 53 • Carrying Capacity 53 Social Indicators and Standards 54 • Resource Indicators and Standards 54 Monitoring 55 • Research Needs 56 • • Planning Team 57 . • References 58 • •• • • l•• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • • ••• ••• • • • • • • • "(7&e SH<l4e 'Rtue1,J 4M 114 1/M:tlt A~'tWat ~ <dtdti(,e • Md~~- .. 'R~ liiw4 o/ t&e 7eto«4 =~ t&e ~ da44ie ~ 4UHe "'1/M:tlt AmeJtiU. ~ 4 • ~-. 7k w,e,, u Cotlt a. """"°" Md ~ ta t&e wa o/ t&e • eved. .. • • · EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • his plan sets forth the management for Management which are discussed in Part • T philosophy for the Snake River Corridor One. Once finalized, it will guide National and provides strategies for addressing Park Service stewardship of the river corri­ • issues and objectives based on that philoso­ dor. The plan has been designed to achieve phy.